1929 Francisco Simplicio No. 240 SP/SW

This 1929 Francisco Simplicio is a spruce and figured satinwood classical guitar from Barcelona, No. 240 – formerly in the Sheldon Urlik collection and featured in his book.

In the videos above, George Sakellariou plays "We Three Kings" on this guitar, and the Mela Guitar Quartet plays Debussy's "Arabesque No. 1" on four rare guitars from the old world, including this one.

Highly Figured Satinwood, No. 240

In addition to the beautiful and ornate carving and inlay work, the materials are striking – most notably it is built from a set of gorgeous and rarely used highly figured satinwood for the back and sides. The engraved headstock and ornate rosette show this maker at his best.

From the Sheldon Urlik Collection

This guitar was formerly housed in the Sheldon Urlik collection and featured on pages 84-85 of the 2nd edition of his book. A second label inside the guitar, from Celestino Fernández & Hno. in Buenos Aires, suggests that an old repair to the top center seam was done there. The guitar was recently revisited by Jeff Elliott, who re-enforced it and also did some other minor gluing internally of purfling and binding joints. It is now concert-ready and in otherwise original condition – including finish and tuning machines.

Sound

The sound of this Simplicio is particularly magnificent – great depth to every note up the entire register with a firm bottom-end and lyrical trebles. It also has plenty of power, even by modern standards today. Overall, a highly desirable example from this famous builder.

Orfeo article on Simplicio – the French guitar magazine Orfeo devoted a feature to Francisco and Miguel Simplicio in its first issue.

Francisco Simplicio: Enrique García's Only Pupil

Francisco Simplicio (1874–1932) was brought up in Barcelona and was a cabinet-maker before he turned to guitar making in the workshop of Enrique García, the founder of the Barcelona school. He joined García in 1918, and the guitars of García's last years were built by the two of them together. When García died in 1922, Simplicio took over the premises at Paseo de San Juan 110, and his labels proudly state that he was García's "successor and only pupil" – "Suc. y único discípulo de Enrique García" – with García's Chicago 1893 medals.

Carved Headstocks and Art Nouveau Ornament

Simplicio was known not only for the beautiful tone of his instruments, but also for his exquisite workmanship and use of extravagant ornamentation. The ornate purfling and rosette detailing are immediately recognizable features of his work, as are the heavily and beautifully engraved headstocks, very much in the Art Nouveau taste of Barcelona at the time. His standard head was based on the Torres pattern, he often fitted a "tornavoz" (a conical tube attached to the soundhole), and in 1929 he won a gold medal at the World's Fair in Barcelona. He died in January 1932 and his son Miguel carried on the workshop.

The Simplicio Sound

The famous 'sound' of Simplicio is perhaps the most unique of the great makers of the twentieth century – it has a very "old-world" charm, and players of these guitars often remark how they are transported psychologically to another world when playing a Simplicio. His guitars left their mark on later makers such as Ignacio Fleta and Daniel Friederich, and they are sought after by collectors because despite their age they continue to play well.